Binding machine



Feb. 15, 1938 c. B. NELSON El AL BINDING MACHINE 2 Shets-Sheet' 1 Filed March 2;), 1936,

INVENTORS.

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- Feb. 15,1938.

c. B. NELSON HAL,

BINDING MACHINE File'd March. 23. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rum hu. u-

mill llilllllllllllll llllllllllllll ll 1 INVENIORS.

) fifirglsfzan 19'. M5011 6 var ATTOWEY Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE 2,108,136 BINDING MACHINE Christian B. Nelson and Isidore Spinner, Chicago, Ill., assignors, by mesn'e assignments, to Plastic Binding Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application March 23,

' 13 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to a binding mechanism, and more particularly to a novel mechanism for spreading an elastic tubular binder for the purpose of inserting a pack of perforated sheets to be secured by the binder, to

obtain a book of sheets or pages, of the type shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,970,285, dated August 14, 1934, granted to R. M. L. Douvry. The binder comprises a continuous back portion having a number of fingers extending from one longitudinal edge thereof, and made of a material, such as celluloid, or pyroxylin, for example, that can be curled longitudinally into a tubular form, and which has sufiicient elasticity to cause it to reassume its tubular form whenever it is spread open and released.

The principal object of this invention relates to the provision of a mechanism or apparatus to facilitate spreading open such a binder, holding it in uncurled position while a pack of perforated sheets is placed in proper position for binding, and gradually releasing the binder, allowing it to recurl as the fingers are inserted through the J perforations in the sheets.

A further object relates to the provision, in such a machine, of means for adjustably setting the parts thereof to accommodate binders of different sizes.

3 The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an isometric view of an elastic binder of the type mentioned above;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a machine embodying the principles of the present invention, showing the mechanism in normal, or released position;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top view or plan of the same ma chine; and

Figure 6 is a detail of the removable spreader pin used in the machine.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to Figure 1',. the binder. l consists of a band or strip forming a back portion 2, and v a plurality of spaced apart fingers 3. The binder is made of suitable materialwhich can be curled -16, Serial No. 70,355

into a longitudinal tubular form as shown, and which has sufiicient flexibility to permit spread-' ing' it open, and sufficient elasticity to cause it to recurl when released. It has been found that a certain type of cellulosic material'can be curled into this shape when heated, and after cooling retains that shape.

Referring now to the several views of the spreading apparatus, asupporting base 4 supports a working plate 5, which, for convenience of manufacture is made in two parts, a front plate 6, and a rear plate I, both of which are secured to the base by suitable means, such as screws 8 (Fi 5).

A plurality of pins 9 are fixed in a row on the rear plate 1, and arranged with suitable spacing to conform with the spacing between the fingers 3 on the binder l, as will be explained later.

Substantially parallel to the row of pins is a backing plate Ill which is a part of a base plate II. The base plate is adjustably slidable on the working plate I and secured in fixed position by means of thumb screws I2, which extend through slots l3 in the base plate II and screw into tapped holes in the working plate After loosening these thumb screws, the backing plate It! can be set closer to, or farther from the row of pins, for purposes to be explained later.

A number of slots l4 are cut in the rear 'working plate 1, these slots being suitably spacedrelative to the pins. In each slot is disposed a vertically extending spreader hook I5, which has a hook IE, on the upper end of a rectangular shank I'l projectingabove the'surface of the plate I. Each of the shanks I1 is securely held in a supporting structure it comprising a pair of plates.

i9 having, opposing notches 20, (shown in the broken away portion in Fi ure 5, with the hook omitted), within which not hes the shanks of the spreader hooks I5 are clamped. The plates I!) are held together by bolts 2!. Hence it is evident that the hooks l6 are maintained in alignment by the supporting structure [8, and are disposed in a row parallel to the row of pins 9 By actuating the supportingstructure the hooks i5 can be moved in unison in the slots l4, toward or away from the row of pins 9.

The hook supporting structure mats mounted on a pair of rack members 22, and secured by nuts 40, said members each comprising a rack 23 and extension rods 24 and 25. One of the extension rods 24 is carriedin a bearing 26 in the supporting frame; and has a threaded end, which is provided with a pair of adjusting lock nuts 21. The other extension rod 25 extends that is to say, between the hooks in o a socket 28 in the supporting frame 4. A compression spring 29 is disposed on the extension 25 and operates to maintain the rack normally in theextreme position toward the left, as shown in Figure 2. The rack member is partly supported by a second bearing 30.

Meshing with the rack 23 are pinions 3|, mounted on a' through shaft 32, which is carried in bearings 33, 34 at each end respectively of the supporting base 4. A crank 35 is fixed to one end of the shaft 32 and is rotated angularly by an operating rod 36 jointed thereto.

Normally, .the apparatus is in the position shown in Figure 2, the row of hooks being near and in alignment with the row of pins. When the operating rod is actuated, preferably by a foot pedal (not shown), the pinions 3| are rotated, (clockwise as seen in Figures 2 and 4) thereby moving the rack member 22 and thusthe supporting structure l8 with its row of hooks l5, toward the right to the position illustrated in Figure 4. The extent of this movement can be adjusted by screwing the lock nuts 27 in or out on the extension rods 24. When the foot pedal is released, the springs 29 return the rack members 22 to the left as shown in Figure 2.

The method of operating this device will now be explained. The first step is illustrated in Figure 2.

The binder I is laid on the working plate 1 with the back portion 2 held between the backing plate I 0 and the row of pins 9. The pins are spaced so that they stand in spaces between fingers 3 .of the'binder i. The backing plate In is set at such a distance from the pins 9 that it will hold the back portion 2 against the pins 9.

With the rack 22 in the extreme left positioi as shown, each of the hooks I6 is in a space between fingers 3 of the binder l. Certain of the spaces between fingers 3 now are occupied by pins 9 while other spaces between fingers are occupied by hooks IS. The spacing of hooks and pins may be such that every space between fin-' gers is occupied by either a hook 16 or a pin 9 but this is not essential, as the spacing can be made such that there are some unoccupied spaces between fingers 3. Y

A rod or wire 31 is now insertedaxially through the tubular binder I and under the hooks l6, and the inside surfaces of the fingers3. The rod 37 is shown separately ,in Figure 6. r

By actuating" the operating rod 36, the hooks are moved to the right, to the position indicated in Figure 4, thus moving the rod 31 away from,

but parallel to therow of pins 9. Since the back portion 2 of the binder I is held substantially fixed between the pins and the backing plate III, the fingers 3 are thusuncurled, until in the final position, they are spread open, as illustrated in Figure 4. A pack ofperforated sheets or pages 38 are then placed in proper position for binding, with the aligned perforations 39 in register with the ends of the uncurled fingers 3-.

The control lever 36 is then gradually released, and the spring 29 forces the supporting structure l8 back toward the original positiori As the rod 31 moves back, the fingers 3 recurl, and in so finally return to a normal curled position within the back portion 2, being guided into that position by-the stackof pages being bound.

\ The rod 3'! is then withdrawn from the end of spreader hooks, and means f0 port to move the hooks.

.extending therefrom, said the binder l and the assembled book lifted off the pins 9.

An assembled book can be disassembled in a similar manner. The book is first pressed down on the pins, which must, of course, be inserted between the fingers as before, and between the pack of sheets 38 and the back portion 2. The rod 31 is then inserted axially through the binder, under the hooks l6, and then by actuating the operating rod 36 as before, the fingers are spread open, the ends of the fingers being thereby withdrawn from the perforations. After lifting the pack of sheets away from the hinder, the operating rod 35 is released, allowing the empty binder to recurl. The rod 3! is then withdrawn, and the binder can -be lifted from the pins.

The locknuts 21 should be set for each size of binder so that the motion of the mechanism will be limited to'such an extent that the fingers will be spread sufiiciently to permit insertion of the pack of sheets, but without allowing the ends of the fingers 3 to escape from under the rod 31.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise machine here shown, the'same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. ,What is considered Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for assembling a pack of perforated sheets into an elastic binder having a continuous back portion with'curled fingers forming a closed circle with said back portion and adapted for engagement with aligned perforations in said pack of sheets, said apparatus comprising in combination, means for holding said back portion, and means for moving said fingers to their uncurled position and holding said fingers uncurled to permit insertion of a pack of sheets in proper position for binding.

.2. Apparatus for assembling a pack of sheets into a tubular elastic binder having a continuous back portion with a plurality of curled fingers extending therefrom and forming a closed circle with said back portion, said fingers being adapted for engagement through corresponding aligned perforations in said pack of sheets, said' apparatus comprising in combination, means for apparatus comprising incombination, means for holding said back portion in fixed position, means for uncurling the fingers; said uncurling means including spreader hooks extending between fingers of the binder, a common support for all the actuating the sup- 4. *Apparatus for assembling a pack of perforated sheets into a tubular binder having "a back portion with a plurality of curled elastic fingers fingers being adapted 9. In a device of the class described, a row of for engagement with corresponding aligned perforations in said pack of sheets, said apparatus comprising in combination, means for holding said back portion in substantially fixed position, a rod adaptedlfor insertion axially through said tubular binder, and means for moving said rod away from, but substantially parallel to said back portion, thereby uncurling said fingers, for insertion of a pack of sheets in proper position for binding, whereby upon release of said fingers they are guided through said perforations during recurling.

5. Apparatus for assembling a pack of perforated sheets into a tubular binder having a back portion from which extend a plurality of elastic curled fingers adapted for engagement with corresponding aligned perforations in said pack of sheets, said apparatus comprising in combination, means including a row of pins for holding said back portion between said fingers, in substantially fixed position, a rod adapted for insertion axially through said tubular binder, a plurality of hooks for engaging said rod between said fingers, supporting means for said hooks, and means for actuating said hooks to move said rod away from, but parallel to said back portion, thereby uncurling said fingers, for holding said fingers incurled to permit insertion of a pack of sheets in proper position for binding, so that upon release of said fingers under control they can pass through said perforation upon recurling.

6. Mechanism for spreading a tubular binder for inserting a pack of perforated sheets therein, said binder having a continuous back portion from which extend a plurality of curled elastic fingers adapted for engagement with corresponding aligned perforations in said pack of sheets,

said mechanism comprising means including a backing member and a row of pins for holding said back portion in substantially fixed position, each of said pins extending between fingers, a rod for insertion axially through said tubular binder, a plurality of hooks, each of said hooks engaging said rod, and means for moving said hooks, in unison, in a direction perpendicular to said row of pins to a predetermined distance from said pins.

7. A device for spreading a cylindrical elastic binder which has a plurality of binding fingers, said device including means, for holding the binder in position, a plurality of spreader. hooks extending between the fingers of the binder, and means for uncurling the fingers, said means including said spreader hooksand means for moving the same.

8. A device of the classdescribed, comprising a backing member, a row of spaced apart pins substantially parallel thereto, a plurality of' spreader hooks disposed in alignment parallel to said row of pins, and means for moving said hooks in unison toward or away from said row of pins.

pins, a backing member disposed parallel thereto, means for adjusting the distance between said backing member and said row of pins, a plurality of hooks, a removable rod adapted to be engaged by all of said hooks simultaneously, a common supporting structure for said hooks, and means for moving said structure in a direction perpendicular to said row of pins.

10. A device of the class described, comprising in combination a working plate, a row of spaced-apart pins fixed thereto, a backing member disposed parallel to, and spaced from, said row of pins, said plate having a row of spacedapart slots, disposed substantially perpendicular to said row of pins, a plurality of spreader hooks, each of said hooks extending through one of said slots, respectively, a movable spreader hook supporting structure beneath said plate, and means for actuating said supporting structure to -move said hooks in said slots.

11. A device of the class described, comprising in combination a working plate, a row of spacedapart pins fixed thereto, a backing member disposed substantially parallel to said rowof pins,

means for adjusting said member relative to said pins, said plate having a plurality of slots therein, said slots being disposed between said pins in spaced relation thereto and perpendicular to said row of pins, a plurality of spreader hooks supported in alignment by a common structure disposed beneath said plate, each of said hooks extending through one of said slots, respectively, means for actuating said hook supporting structure to move said hooks from a position adjacent said row of pins, spring means for returning said hooks to said position, and means for adjustably limiting the extent of said motion.

12. Mechanism for spreading a binder of the type having a plurality of spaced parallel curled elastic fingers held together by a longitudinally extending portion from which the fingers extend, said mechanism comprising means for holding the longitudinally extending portion, and means adapted to engage the fingers and movable away from the longitudinally extending portion for uncurling the fingers.

13. Mechanism for spreading a binder of the type having a plurality of spaced parallel curled elastic fingers held together by a longitudinally extending portion from which the fingers extend, said mechanism comprising means for holding the longitudinally extending portion, and

.means adapted to engage the fingers and movable away from the longitudinally extending portion for uncurling the fingers, said last means including a plurality of spreader hooks disposed in alignment parallel .to said held longitudinally extending portion of the binder and movable towards and away therefrom.

CHRISTIAN B. NELSON.

ISIDORE SPINNER. 

